The Kingswood Oxford track and field teams has kick-started the season with strong results in their first two meets.Although the weather has not been in their favor, the teams have been able to train hard and work on techniques before their first meet. “It is difficult to practice certain events indoors and transfer results to meets with new competitors,” said boys track and field Head Coach Alex Kraus.
He said that new members of the team are eager to try new things.“We see lots of enthusiasm with kids wanting to try new events,” he said. He continued to say that sometimes it takes a whole season to learn an event and see the improvement.In the first meet of the season, the boys team pulled away with wins against Wilbraham and Monson Academy and Pomfret School.
KO had some strong performances from junior Coltrane Joseph who won the 400 with the time of 54.0 seconds, followed by junior Broox Bolden in second and senior Trey Taylor in third. Freshman Jeffrey Davis won the 100 and 200 with times of 11.3 and 23.5 seconds. The team had great performances from junior Kyren Petteway, who finished second in both the 100 and 200. Senior Varun Tankala beat the field to win the triple jump, leaping 32 feet, six inches.
With a large boys team, the Wyverns were able to cover all of the events with many of the athletes in each event teaching and learning from each other. “We have great leaders such as senior Keegan Tolland who leads in the throwing events,” Coach Kraus said. The girls team is on the smaller side but has very strong athletes. “It is important for the team to stay healthy and keep a positive attitude throughout the season,” Coach Kraus said.
The Wyverns were successful in winning their first meet. They had strong performances from sophomore Ainsley Vaughn who won the 200 with the time of 27.5 seconds and senior Amiya Young who won the high jump, vaulting three feet, eight inches. Freshman Anelise Vaughn added to the success of the team and won the girls 800 by around five seconds.
Through the rough, rainy, cold weather it is important to keep spirits up.“We try to keep the intensity and positivity up even when training indoors,” said girls varsity track and field Head Coach Tricia Watson.
The captains always lead the team during warm ups. “They make the team feel like it is something more than just running,” sophomore Ethan Pinkes said. For the distance group, it is important to keep up the mileage. “The group is close,” junior Tom Betts said. “We train together and work hard to keep a pace, to get ready for the races.”
The team has two managers, senior Christina Daniels and senior Kevin Augustine who help out the coaches and the team and keep the books. “It is fun to see people’s improvements throughout the days and weeks,” said Augustine. “I can see that the team is always there running together and is always looking out for each other.”
The boys team also won their first home meet of the season against Canterbury School and Marianapolis Preparatory School. Bolden won the 400 with a time of 55.0 seconds and junior Ellis Winfree won the 300 hurdles with a time of 50.4 seconds. Tolland won the shot put with a throw of 42 feet, 10 inches and also won the javelin with a throw of 131 feet, eight inches.
The girls team was able to beat Canterbury School but not Marianapolis Preparatory School. Junior Erin Bowen won the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 54.1 seconds and junior Sydney Jett won the long jump with a distance of 14 feet, two inches.
The Wyverns have significant young talent. “We have lots of freshmen in throwing and in running events who are all willing to try new events,” Coach Watson said.
The team faced fierce competition against Suffield Academy at home on Wednesday, April 25, and will have a quad meet against Brunswick School, Greenwich Academy, and the Taft School away on April 28.
